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Go and check out our good friend @akaJimmyC ‘s show entitled ATOMISED at Lollipop Gallery (58 Commercial Street, Shoreditch, London). The show runs from September 10 – October 10th. This show is a MUST SEE!!!

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Renowned street artist Jimmy C opens his long awaited solo exhibition at London’s Lollipop Gallery this September. Titled ‘Atomised’, the exhibition will include new paintings by the artist painted in his signature aerosol pointillist style, exploring notions of how the human subject is connected to the world on an atomic and macrocosmic level through the motif of the sphere. The show will also feature an interactive real time self-generating portrait, where visitors to the show can see themselves transformed into a Jimmy C style painting.

The real time portraits are being created in collaboration with digital software artist Stuart Cupit, who has developed a custom application, which uses a Kinect2 sensor to capture the shape and colours of the subject’s face. In real-time the software uses a complex algorithm to calculates where to place thousands of spray paint pixels, reproducing Jimmy’s painting style in a fluid, interactive and engaging new piece of work.

Jimmy. C is a PROLIFIC London-based street artist who has worked all over the world, and is known for his aerosol pointillist signature style as well as pioneering an anaglyphic 3D painting technique. His East London portrait of Usain Bolt became one of the key images in the London Olympics news coverage, whilst the portrait of David Bowie on a wall in Brixton was the cause of recent controversy when a commercial company covered it up with advertising, sparking a community uproar and an immediate retraction of the campaign. Last year he collaborated with iconic London store, Liberty, to create a limited edition Cosmic Heart fabric print that was launched during London Fashion Week.

Let it enfold you. No really, do it. The sonic sounds and total immersive experience that is a Flinching Eye Collective performance will render you unable to be anywhere but completely in the moment. Ideophonetic, the performance for the Biennial of the Americas in Denver last week at Junction Box was not to miss.

The temporal, interactive, and sensory experience invites you in to not just watch but participate – to be in on the action just as much as it’s happening around you.

The lights focused your attention, the voices, noises, the symbol grinding, whistle blowing, turntable spinning, does the same. But wait, because it doesn’t stop there.

(Image from the FEC)

As more unfolds around you a better sense of Ideophonetic, what it is, and its purpose comes to surface. The FEC, their ideas and the ways they bring them to light becomes clear and just as quickly slips away…keeping you on your toes.

The performance was seamless and sonic, loud and quite, playful yet well crafted, simultaneous to a grinding halt.

As you moved around the space it changed, your attention shifted, the action carried on.

The a-typical instruments, the devices and machines rigged to create the sounds kept you intrigued. Their inclusion is unique and another feature that highlights the creative ingenuity of this crew.

When you’re part of the static that makes the sound you’re gonna have something to say.

Render me refreshed to have had the opportunity to experience a Flinching Eye performance, and color me still spinning.

A rare entity, the Flinching Eye Collective consists of seven members: Max Bernstein, Adán De La Garza, Scott Ferguson, Tobias Fike, Ryan Wade Ruehlen, Benjamin Gale-Schreck, and Matt Weedman. Independently these guys are interdisciplinary media artists. Their collaboration resulted in the creation of the collective back in 2011 in Denver. They have toured in cities around the US and this performance was the first to happen in Denver.

You know what is the shizzz? Transforming Hieronymus Bosch’s Garden of Earthly Delights (above)into Gannis’ Garden of Emoji Delights (below)! I came across this piece at Pulse 2015, and was FLOORED, after seeing the original in Museo del Prado in Madrid AND after studying the original painting extensively at IU when I was getting my BA in Art History. I mean WOW. There are no words to describe my excitement for turning an iconic piece of art history into a contemporary, relatable, fascinating work of art that represents the 21st century – just as Bosch’s work reflected themes and issues of his time.

Take a look for yourself! LIKE WOWZAHSSSSS. Seriously. I am so beyond in love.

Check out the comparissons from the original painting to the 21st century remake!

Original:

21st Century Gannis Version:

Original:

21st Century Gannis Version:

Need I say more?! This piece totally is the definition of reworking an old master and giving it a meaning that is relatable to us today.

In preparation, Psychemagik and Ari Russo have gone through 1,000’s of VHS tapes, laserdiscs, vinyl records and cassettes in search of the perfect sample. Unknown private press records from the 1970’s and 80’s will be mixed with more familiar sounds, whilst the visuals will combine sensory overload with stark, sarcastic footage. A live camera will capture video which will be processed in real-time using a programming code developed by Ari Russo. These three-dimensional visualisations will be led by the music, and projected back into the space, creating shadows that blur imaginary with reality. Far from a random arrangement, the performance will provide a film-like narrative held together by carefully selected music, found footage and audience participation.

Commission have worked together with the artists to create a body of work which encompasses ‘Cosmic Code’ a juxtaposition of Psychemagik’s otherworldly sounds from the past and Ari Russo’s digital intervention. This site-specific installation will occupy two 3 x 4m walls on which we’ll display a series of screen prints at the Gallery Bar of the Ace Hotel London between the 18th and 30th of November 2014. The prints are 50 x 70cm and limited to 10 per colour-way, these will be available to purchase at £30 each.

Supermodel, sculptor, set-designer artist, and a muse of many, Rachel Feinstein has conquered several aspects of the creative industry. Mrs. Feinstein (married to artist John Currin) has now become an even greater cultural international sensation, with her FIRST US public art installation, in New York City, Folly.

Feinstein’s latest creations can be found in Madison Square Park. These whimsical like set pieces, reminiscent in construction to the set designed for Marc Jacobs for his Fall/Winter 2012 show however, smaller, brings a fantastical sense to the hustle and bustle of the Big Apple.

What appear to be cardboard cut-outs with hand drawn accents, these site-specific sculptures are contoured aluminium panels concealed with vinyl decals with graphite like doodle accents. These hand-like touches, to me, can develop a more personal connection between the viewer and each sculpture. Look at these non-functioning architectural fairy tale esque works and imagine them as drawings in a book you read as a child. Think Anastasia, Cinderella, Snow White, maybe even Alice in Wonderland – and now put a Rococo and Baroque twist on them. While these are not her references – these are what I recall.

“Flying Ship,” “Rococo Hut,” and “Cliff House” are the titles of the three works that you can find staged in the park until September 7th.

CHC: Brilliant! Let’s begin with the basics, how did you get started with photography? Was art always in your background?

HH: While growing up I was constantly exposed (no pun intended) to my father’s lens. He was a great photography enthusiast, always searching for new equipment or the best buy in film. I am now in possession of the many photos he took while serving in World War II overseas, during the time he spent traveling as a comedian with “The Major Bowes Amateur Hour”, and of course the thousands of family photos he took. My entire family is creative. My sister, Jane Simonson is a fine art painter, whose works have been shown in various galleries and museums. I couldn’t (and still cannot) draw a stick figure. I knew what I wanted to express on paper or perhaps even in words, yet I just didn’t have that gene. This, my favorite photography quote pretty much sums that up: “The whole point of taking pictures is so that you don’t have to explain things in words.” – Elliott Erwitt

CHC: When did your photography really come into play as a serious passion to pursue?

HH: Around 5 years ago, I was constantly taking poor quality pictures with my blackberry (ancient!). Everywhere I went, I documented events as they happened in my life, in order to preserve my memories. On one particular birthday, my kids bought me a “real” camera, a ‘point n shoot’ so that at least I could have better quality pictures.

That was it for me. I signed up for lessons, upgraded to a DSLR, added lenses, more equipment, more camera bodies, even more lenses, and went out on the streets.

CHC: You photograph the everyday. Why People, the title of one of your series? How do you relate as the artist to your subject?

HH: You are correct I photograph the everyday. In my series, People, I look for a ‘story’. I don’t necessarily care what the “true” story is, as I am not a photojournalist. I relate what I call a good photo to a good ballet. I have been a patron of the New York City Ballet for over 30 years. The reason I adore the ballet so much is that for the most part, there is no “story”. Unless it is intended to have one, such as Sleeping Beauty or Swan Lake, (which I still love to see for the pure athleticism of the dancers), but those are not nearly as interesting or fun for me. The same holds true in my photography, whether it is of People or of the dolls in my Mirror Mirror series. The normal stress that comes with everyday life will show on people’s faces and body language, good and bad, whether it is because they are rushed, busy, hot, cold, hungry, tired, happy, distraught, in pain, frustrated because they have to wait for something or for someone, or excited because they are waiting for something or someone!

Rarely do I find a relaxed human on the streets of New York. I relate more to people on the beach. The beach is a wonderful “street”. The public beaches are so much fun for me because there is so much diversity, from very young to very old, the eccentrics, the vast array of body types and so many tattooed bodies! It is their “day off”, time to relax, maybe meditate, exercise, play or simply sleep.

CHC: Your series Mirror Mirror is all about the use of Barbie in eerie, mysterious, evocative and humorous situations in your works (please feel free to agree or disagree), I ABSOLUTELY ADORE these photographs. From what I’ve previously seen as what I like to call “Barbie Art,” I have never been so entertained and fascinated, even in the most mellow situations pictorially. How did Barbie enter your oeuvre? Why Barbie? What does this plastic ICONIC doll mean to you?

CHC: Explain how you shoot your Mirror Mirror series if you don’t mind. Do you pick out which Barbie you will use, choose the location, and have an idea of what you want the picture to turn out like…or do you bring Barbie somewhere with you, have your camera and just go with the flow?

HH: I use both methods, and sometimes will combine the two. A shoot can take anywhere from half a second while on the run or “in the moment,” to weeks for the staged pieces, where I conjure up an idea, make sure the lighting is just right, the props are proportioned well, and the doll in use is clean and ready for work! But, I always have a camera with me anyway, and more often than not, depending upon the day, there will be a random doll in my bag.

This is an example of an unstaged, “I happened to have the right doll in my bag” moment. I had to work out the right proportion, hand and leg position, lighting all of the faces and direction of movement in a matter of seconds while holding my camera steady with one hand. Very difficult!!! The “story” here is as if she is trying to “blend in” with the crowd, which apparently, she did, as not one person even noticed what I was doing. This is telling of what New York City is, to me. People are distracted by nothing other than themselves. -Heidi Horowitz

CHC: Unlike your “Barbie” photographs, do you stage the photographs you take of those in your People series? Do you ever interact with the people before of after you shoot, or is it all about the story the picture tells, and for people to leave the rest up to their imagination?

HH: I never stage a photo on the streets. As I mentioned previously, I am not actually interested in getting to know a perfect stranger’s story. That is none of my business, and it is not my job to report. It is more fun, and way more interesting to me to have the viewer make that up in their own mind, based upon all of the elements that go into a shot.

I normally do not photograph children, but sometimes it is necessary. This is about the interaction between the small child and the large adult, both dressed in costume, but only one of them knows that. As I saw this scene unfolding I literally ran to catch up to it. The “story” I made up in my head was this adorable little girl thinking “OMG I think I just saw the real spiderman! Nobody is going to believe me!” And she is utterly amazed that he is looking directly at her, as if to say, “Yeah, kid, it’s me. Don’t you worry, I am watching out for you.. go ahead and take your daddy trick or treating..and by the way, “Nice job on the feathers.” – Heidi Horowitz

CHC: Who would you say are your artistic idols? Whether it be iconic artists, photo journalists, family, anyone…Moreover, whose works do you admire most and draw inspiration from? Do you have a muse?

HH: My most influential artistic idol is my sister, Jane Simonson. Because of her, I was surrounded by art in some form or another throughout my life. There are so many artists that I admire, and I am thankful to have made some amazingly talented friends in the photographic community, but I especially look up to Lori Nix, who’s creative process requires enormous patience, as she not only builds her own sets, but then photographs them in the most beautiful way, each one depicting a sense of emotion, without the use of a doll! David Carol, my teacher and mentor, has been incredibly inspirational to me. He introduced me to the “world of photography” as he himself lives it. He has had me study lists upon lists of who’s who in photography, past and present. If I am in a “slump”, he takes me on “field trips” to places I’ve never been, makes me run to “get closer” to a shot, and reminds me to check my exposure! Whether it is below freezing or stifling hot outside, we will walk and shoot for miles, and at the end of the day I will have learned something new, not only about photography, but about myself.

As for having a “muse”, yes I do have one. Me! I use my own PERSONAL life experiences, whether happy, sad, dark or funny, as inspiration for and representation of ALL women.

CHC: Where can we find and purchase your work?

HH: Some of my work can be seen on my website, Facebook or Instagram. Although, there are many more photographs that I do not choose to show online, I always try to arrange a private showing of my work when requested. Each photograph is produced in limited editions usually of only 12, signed (en verso) and numbered. Sizes will vary, but the Mirror Mirror series always shows best when printed 30” x 40” or larger. All inquiries can go to my “contact” page on the website to email me directly.